The Brief
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California’s two-year crackdown on organized retail theft has resulted in 29,060 arrests and $226 million in stolen goods recovered as of September 2025.
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Bolstered by a historic investment of $267 million, local agencies and district attorneys have referred nearly 23,000 cases for prosecution.
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Recent data highlights a nearly 19% increase in property recovered over the past three months, totaling $36 million in assets returned to businesses.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California’s sustained investment in disrupting criminal networks has led to more than 29,000 arrests for organized retail theft over the past two years.
Backed by the largest investment in public safety in state history, local law enforcement agencies are utilizing new technology and increased staffing to dismantle sophisticated theft rings.
What we know
Between October 2023 and September 2025, state-funded operations led to 29,060 arrests and the referral of 22,896 cases for prosecution, according to a statement issued by Newsom’s office.
Central to this effort is a $267 million grant package distributed to 55 communities through the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC).
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This funding allowed 38 law enforcement agencies to purchase advanced equipment and 13 district attorney’s offices to implement “vertical prosecution” programs, where a single prosecutor handles a case from start to finish.
In the most recent quarter (July-September 2025), officers recovered nearly $36 million in stolen goods. This increase contributed to a total of $226 million in recovered property since the program’s inception—an increase of nearly 19% in just three months.
Chronology
2019: Governor Newsom establishes CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force.
2023: California announces largest investment ever to fight organized retail crime as part of Public Safety Plan.
October 2023: BSCC begins distributing $267 million in grants to local communities.
August 2024: Newsom signs landmark bipartisan legislative package to strengthen penalties for property crimes and “smash-and-grab” thefts.
September 2025: The reporting period concludes with a record $226 million in recovered goods and more than 29,000 arrests.
What they are saying
“We are sending a clear message: organized retail crime has no place in our communities,” Newsom said.
“Through strong partnerships with local law enforcement, we are disrupting criminal enterprises, protecting small businesses, and ensuring that those responsible face consequences for their actions.”
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BSCC Board President Linda Penner added, “ORT grants are providing local law enforcement with the tools needed to strategically dismantle retail crime networks. With thousands of arrests and millions of dollars in recovered items, we are successfully building a safer environment for California businesses and residents alike.”
What’s next
The state expects the number of convictions to continue to rise as vertical prosecution teams clear a backlog of cases.
The bipartisan legislation of 2024 provides new tools for the next phase of enforcement, allowing the aggregation of stolen goods between victims and different counties to meet crime thresholds.
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Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol task force is still active, having already conducted more than 4,300 investigations since 2019.
What can you do
Small business owners and residents can stay informed about local public safety initiatives by visiting the BSCC website to view grant progress summaries and maps.
Suspicious activity or organized retail theft should be reported directly to local law enforcement or through CHP’s Organized Retail Theft reporting portal.
The Source
The information in this report is based on official statements and data released by the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC).